title: Vitamin A deficiency in pre-school age Congolese children during malarial attacks. Part 2: Impact of parasitic disease on vitamin A status.
abstract: The vitamin A status of 454 pre-school age Congolese children was evaluated by the impression cytology method with transfer (ICT) and by the determination of plasma retinol. During malarial attacks, the vitamin A status is abnormal (deficient or marginal) in 40.8% of the children according to the ICT test and in 37.5% of the children who have plasma levels of retinol lower than 10 micrograms/dl. The mean concentration of plasma retinol in patients during malarial attacks (14.8 +/- 9.5 micrograms/dl) is significantly lower than the values found in other subjects (31.5 +/- 14.3 micrograms/dl) (p less than 0.001). A significant correlation was established between the results of the ICT test and two biochemical parameters (retinol, transthyretin). We conclude that there is a significant relationship between vitamin A deficiency and a malarial attack.
authors.affiliation: CNAM-ISTA, Paris.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Galan
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Samba
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Luzeau
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Amedee-Manesme
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003223:Congo; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014801:Vitamin A